Zuckerberg Searching for Han, Meets Lee Jae-yong

First Visit to Korea in 10 Years Since June 2013
Discussion on AI Semiconductor Supply Cooperation Plan at the End of This Month
Coordination of President Yoon's Courtesy Call Schedule

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, is reported to visit South Korea at the end of this month to meet with Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics.

According to industry sources on the 21st, CEO Zuckerberg is scheduled to visit South Korea next week to discuss cooperation plans in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) with Chairman Lee.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta.
Photo by Yonhap News

This will be CEO Zuckerberg's first visit to South Korea in about 10 years since June 2013. At that time, he visited South Korea for a 2-day, 1-night trip and met with then-President Park Geun-hye and Chairman Lee, who was Vice Chairman at the time.

The purpose of CEO Zuckerberg's current visit is known to be to discuss the supply of semiconductors for AI business. Facing Nvidia, which virtually monopolizes the AI chip market, companies like Meta and Google are pursuing the development of their own chips.

Therefore, collaboration with Samsung Electronics, which possesses related technology, is essential. The recent visit of Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, who met consecutively with Chairman Lee and SK Chairman Chey Tae-won last month, is interpreted in the same context.

It is also reported that CEO Zuckerberg is coordinating a schedule to pay a courtesy call on President Yoon Suk-yeol during his visit. The Blue House has acknowledged the meeting request and is reportedly reviewing it positively.